Devil in disguise

"Hey mum, you okay?" Joe's voice rang through the house as Sandy shut the front door behind her, trying to stop the tremors that ran through her hands. She kicked her shoes off, not bothering to put them on side of the hallway where they belonged, too focused on controlling her breathing and trying to stop the tears.

"Yeah love," she replied, the nurse trying to keep her voice as steady as she could. "Look I'm exhausted, I'm just going to go to bed. Night." Before Joe could find her and see that she really wasn't okay, Sandy had already run up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her. Running to the windows, she pulled the blinds closed and then, when she knew that no-one would be able to see her, she finally let herself go, images from earlier that day racing through her head.

Her phone start ringing, shocking her out of her stupor though when she saw who was calling she threw the phone onto the bed, trying to stop the rising panic attack.

It had been going so well with Dodger, she'd been having fun and so had he, that was it, but that had all been ruined. Once her sons had found out, well then they'd agreed to go public. Sure they'd been stared at, he was the same age as Ziggy for God's sake, but it was worth it, they liked each other and enjoyed one another's company.

"Let them stare," he had muttered to her as both and Frankie and Sienna kept looking over from the bar, their disapproval obvious to see.

Despite the looks they'd gained from friend and stranger alike they hadn't let it change anything. Until he arrived.

"I'm going to have to go babes," Dodger said, looking like he wanted to stay more than anything else. "My shift starts soon."

Sandy nodded, kissing him when he went to leave. "We still on for tonight?"

"Definitely." Dodger smiled, sauntering out of the pub, tipping a nod at both Patrick and Sienna, both of them looking irritated. Draining her wine, Sandy went to leave the pub, already excited for that night's date, but her path was blocked by Patrick.

"Can we talk?"

"Of course," Sandy smiled, already knowing where this conversation would go, but she sat back down.

"I don't like your relationship with Mark," he said, surprising Sandy with his bluntness.

Suppressing a sigh, she thought through her next words carefully. It would not do to anger the father of her... boyfriend? She wasn't really sure, her and Mark had never really talked about what they were to each other, but they were both fine with their little fling. "With all due respect Patrick, Dodger is a grown adult. He is more than responsible and can make his own decisions, we're not hurting anyone and I'm certainly not stopping him from doing as he pleases."

"I don't think you understand Ms. Roscoe," Patrick replied, and although his voice was still calm and steady, Sandy couldn't help but feel wary at the angry glint in his eyes. "Mark lost a girl he loved very much only a few months ago. He's still incredibly vulnerable and I don't believe this relationship is the best thing for him at this point. He'll only end up getting hurt."

"I think I understand plenty. I know exactly what Dodger went through, and have gone through the same thing myself."

"You are not what Mark needs," Patrick interrupted. "What he needs is his family, he needs space to try and sort out what is going through his head, you are not letting him have that space."

"And from what I can gather, he isn't even talking to you half the time. If he feels the need to break this off at any point I won't cause a fuss, but maybe something like our relationship is exactly what he needs."

"Break it off," Patrick commanded.

"I don't take kindly to being told what to do,"

"Can't you see what you're doing? Mark is only going to be left more hurt than he originally was and it will be all your fault. He's your son's age, your taking him in a misguided attempt to hold onto your youth."

"How dare you," Sandy snapped, but Patrick wasn't finished.
"Can't you see Mark deserves a real chance at finding love and you're ruining that for him. Whilst you're in the picture he'll never let himself find someone who actually deserves him."

"And if I don't? Break up with him that is?" Sandy taunted, unable to irritate the headmaster more than he already was. What he did next was completely unexpected. He had moved so he was leaning over the table and had grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly.

As she took a pain filled gasp, Patrick leant further to whisper in her ear. "You do love your children don't you? Just as I love Mark. I bet you'd do anything for them, just like I would. I only want to protect Mark, with him being out of my life for so long, well I just have to make up for all those lost years. In any way possible."

"What are you talking about?" Sandy whimpered, trying to hide the fear that she was feeling, though the sadistic look that was plastered all over Patrick's face suggested that she was failing. She tried to see if anyone had noticed what was happening right under their noses, tried to catch someone's attention but the pair were in a little alcove, completely hidden from view from all the other patrons.

"Jason and Robbie have their exams coming up soon don't they?" Patrick continued, his voice as light and steady as if they were merely talking about the weather. "It would be a real shame if they failed or if they were caught cheating. They'd be completely taken out of all their exams, their studies would be... over."

"You wouldn't dare," Sandy snarled, enraged at the threat to her children.

"Oh, don't dare me Sandra, I just wouldn't be able to resist. I can make it so that no university in the whole country would accept them, same for a decent job. I mean, they could go and continue on with the family business, though I doubt they'd be happy staying at a garage their whole lives, Jason especially, he's so ambitious isn't he? He wants to be a doctor, am I right? Well that will be hard if he doesn't have any qualifications."

"You monster."

"Not at all Sandra," Patrick replied, and although the sadistic glint in his eye hadn't vanished, he appeared to be nothing more than amused at the entire situation. "I'm just looking out for my son, you know how it is. You have so many after all. I believe you know what needs to be done now." When Sandy didn't reply, he tightened his grip on her arm, until she whimpered out a confirmation. "Now I want you to say it. Make sure we're on the right page."

"You.. I have to break it off with Dodger."

"Exactly. And soon, he doesn't deserve to be led on like you are doing." Patrick smiled, relinquishing his hold. Standing, he straightened his tie and nodded to Sandy. "It's been lovely catching up, we should do it some other time." Before Sandy could reply, Patrick had walked away and it took all of her control to not cry right there, in the middle of the crowded pub. Instead, she took a deep breath and walked out of the Dog, shoulders held high, already pulling her phone out and dialling a very familiar number.

Looking over the dark bruises that had already formed on her arm, Sandy held back another sob. She wouldn't cry, she was stronger than this. She was damn it. Her phone began ringing again, but once again (just like she had done the past seven times) she let it go straight to voice mail.

"Sandy?" Dodger's voice rung out from the phone. "Sandy, I know you're there. Look, just talk to me babes. I don't... I don't get it, we were doing well, who cares what others think. We're happy, or I thought we were. Look, just call me please, I'll be waiting."

The phone beeped, signalling the end of the message and Sandy broke again, trying to keep control of her sobbing and failing miserably. It was only a fling, so why did it hurt so much?

"I can't do tonight," Sandy said as soon as Dodger picked up the phone.

"Hello to you too," Dodger replied, laughing slightly. "Well I'm free on Friday if you want to go out then?"

"No, I'm sorry Dodger, but I don't think this is working. I don't think we should continue seeing one another." She heard a sharp intake of breath on the other side of the line and it took all of her restraint to not break and start apologising. But she needed to be strong, she needed to protect her family and if it came at the cost of her own happiness... so be it.

"What are you talking about Sands?"

"We're just not right for one another."

"I don't know, I though we-" Dodger began, a playful note still in his voice, though Sandy could hear the slight tremors. Unable to listen to him pretending that he was ok, she interrupted swiftly.

"You're just too immature for me," She lied, hating herself for sounding so harsh. "And you're Ziggy's age for God's sake, that just isn't right."

"We've talked about this though," Dodger said a moment's pause. "You were fine with it then, what's changed?"

"I just think that you deserve a real chance at love, not a has-been like me," Sandy noted she was repeating Patrick's words and can't help but smile at the irony.

"What's changed?" Dodger repeated, his voice stern, though no-where near as threatening as his father's had been.

"I'm sorry Dodger," Sandy replied, taking a breath as she felt the tears threaten to fall once more. "But please, don't call me again."

"What's happened. I swear I'll kill whoever's said or done anything." But Sandy had stopped listening, instead ending the call and making her way back home, hoping frantically that she wouldn't run into anyone.

That night Sandy Roscoe cried herself to sleep for the first time in years.

So quite a dark one-shot compared to some of my others, but I hope you all enjoyed it. I personally loved Sandy and Dodger's relationship but I was surprised there were no scene's with his family when it was going on. I can't imagine Patrick would have been pleased.

Hopefully Patrick won't have seemed too out of character, he's incredibly manipulative, especially with women and I can imagine him using Sandy's children as a way to manipulate her.

Keep the prompts coming in guys, they're all brilliant!

Next Story – Behind Closed Doors - Sandy gets a new boyfriend and he's not as perfect as he first seems - prompted by Sun Dried Tomato